Mentors
Erick Erikson argued on the basis of his clinical experience that adults stagnate in self-absorption unless they take an interest in the next generation. If they do take such an interest they are likely to become “generative.” Being generative moves one towards a wise and satisfying old age. The self-absorbed, however, move toward despair. They become “elderlies,” distinguished only by old age, instead of “elders,” who quietly live up to their role as bearers of wisdom and dignity for the next generation.
I am quoting this directly from a paper by Jerome Berryman called Children And Mature Spirituality. That short section really stuck out to me because it seems that we living out a world of "elderlies" and are all in danger of living and dying unto ourselves, alone.
In the men's meeting at Trinity we have been talking about the danger of men being alone and the need to have mentors and be mentors. It was really powerful teaching (again, if nothing else, simply because of the lack of this way of life in our current world). It challenged me with the significant power in word and affirmation towards others because I am a pastor and speak from a place of some authority. It is not something to be casual about or to throw around carelessly in hopes that it might work ... but it calls me to create avenues to come close enough to another person so that I might look into their lives and souls and speak a meaningful blessing. If we look at Jesus work on earth, it would seem that this action of his upon the apostles and the community of believers did in fact turn the entire world upside down. Two of his words from the cross were blessing (to a theif and to his mother and friend) and one was a prayer for forgiveness. These words went out into the air and landed deep into the soul of human beings ... causing something noble in them to rise up.
In Bob Dylan's Restless Farewell he says:
a false clock tries to tick out my time
To disgrace, distract, and bother me.
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face,
And the dust of rumors covers me.
But if the arrow is straight
And the point is slick,
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick.
The blessing of Jesus pierces through all the dust and dirt of sin and death and uncovers the image of God.
I am quoting this directly from a paper by Jerome Berryman called Children And Mature Spirituality. That short section really stuck out to me because it seems that we living out a world of "elderlies" and are all in danger of living and dying unto ourselves, alone.
In the men's meeting at Trinity we have been talking about the danger of men being alone and the need to have mentors and be mentors. It was really powerful teaching (again, if nothing else, simply because of the lack of this way of life in our current world). It challenged me with the significant power in word and affirmation towards others because I am a pastor and speak from a place of some authority. It is not something to be casual about or to throw around carelessly in hopes that it might work ... but it calls me to create avenues to come close enough to another person so that I might look into their lives and souls and speak a meaningful blessing. If we look at Jesus work on earth, it would seem that this action of his upon the apostles and the community of believers did in fact turn the entire world upside down. Two of his words from the cross were blessing (to a theif and to his mother and friend) and one was a prayer for forgiveness. These words went out into the air and landed deep into the soul of human beings ... causing something noble in them to rise up.
In Bob Dylan's Restless Farewell he says:
a false clock tries to tick out my time
To disgrace, distract, and bother me.
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face,
And the dust of rumors covers me.
But if the arrow is straight
And the point is slick,
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick.
The blessing of Jesus pierces through all the dust and dirt of sin and death and uncovers the image of God.
Comments